Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 59

FOUNDATION OF RELIGIOUS ORDER
Dharma in the form of the spiritual values is eternal, it is self-existent; it cannot be created. This is an objective view-point. There is another point of view to describe \dharma, viz. the empirical point of view. From this viewpoint, dharma, i.e., religion and the religious tradition need establishment and fostering for keeping them alive. This is achieved through the foundation of tirtha, i.e., religious organization or laying down the doctrines. Bhagavān Mahāvīra became the founder of religious tirtha-tirthankara-by establishing a religious order through propounding the doctrines of dharma. The eleven learned Brāhmins including Indrabhūti together with their own disciples were the first to become initiated as the members (monks) of this newly established religious order. Initiation of Women
Bhagavān Mahāvīra propounded the Doctrine of Soul (ätman), according to which 'soul is the principal or the most fundamental point of consideration while evaluating any living being. Qualification of being a human being' was secondary in his view. Secondly, he was also a 'humanitarian' in the sense that he gave importance only to the quality of being a human being'; he gave the least importance to other considerations such as caste and sex.
Candanabālā expressed her wish to be initiated as a nun. There were a few other women with her. They too wanted to be initiated. Bhagavān Mabāvīra initiated all of them as nuns. Twofold Dharma
Bhagavān Mahāvira propounded two categories of dharma :